ANAHEIM — The Angels are finally going to get a chance to see their $33 million investment.

Right-hander Robert Stephenson was activated on Wednesday, the culmination of nearly 14 months rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Stephenson said there were some extra emotions that came with putting his name onto an active major league roster for the first time since 2023.

“Honestly, it’s up there with making my debut,” he said. “It’s pretty special.”

A few hours later, Stephenson pitched a perfect inning against the New York Yankees, striking out two.

The Angels signed Stephenson as a free agent in January 2024, to a relatively large deal for a relief pitcher based on what he’d shown down the stretch in 2023.

After posting a 5.14 ERA in his first 18 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephenson was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. They suggested a tweak to the way he threw his slider, and the results were eye-opening. Stephenson had a 2.35 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings with the Rays.

Although Stephenson, 32, got hurt before he could pitch in a game with the Angels, he said he believes that slider — which is sometimes identified as a cutter — is still there. His fastball averaged 97.2 mph during his final Triple-A outing on Sunday. It was 96.8 mph in 2023.

“Definitely,” he said. “These outings that I’ve had on the rehab assignment, I felt everything’s been pretty much right where I want it to be. I’m happy with it. I just need a little more time getting the split dialed in, but the main pitches that I need are the slider and the fastball, and those have been great.”

Stephenson said he initially was expecting that he wouldn’t be back until around the All-Star break, but the rehab went so smoothly that he was activated after just five innings in the minors.

The Angels have been trying to piece together a reliable bullpen since right-hander Ben Joyce has been out. (Joyce is now done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.)

It remains to be seen how Stephenson will be used. He hasn’t pitched more than one inning and he hasn’t pitched on back-to-back days, so he won’t do either of those things initially.

Manager Ron Washington said the plan is to wait before using him in high-leverage spots.

“I would hope that we give him a chance to get settled in,” Washington said. “But you know, if the opportunity presents itself, and he’s the best we have at the time, (pitching in a high-leverage spot) will happen. But that’s not our intention right now.”

The Angels opened a spot for Stephenson on the active roster by optioning left-hander Jake Eder. They designated catcher Chuckie Robinson for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Stephenson.

KINGERY TOO

Utilityman Scott Kingery had waited even longer than Stephenson to get back to the big leagues. Kingery was added to the Angels roster on Wednesday. He last played in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies for one game in 2022. The last time he played regularly was 2020.

Kingery, 31, simply hadn’t lived up to his potential with the Phillies, so they kept him in the minors for most of that time.

The Angels acquired him over the winter for his versatility. He can play center field, shortstop, second base and third.

Kingery had a .373 average with a .996 OPS in his last 21 games at Salt Lake after missing the start of the Triple-A season with a hamstring injury. The Angels have been struggling to get production in center field or second base, so Kingery could be plugged into either of those spots.

“He was doing a very good job down there,” Washington said. “He was on our radar when we went to spring training, so we decided it’s time to give him a shot.”

The Angels designated veteran Tim Anderson for assignment, opening spots for Kingery on the 26- and 40-man rosters.